Jazz pianist Michel Petrucciani: biography, personal life, creativity

Michel Petrucciani is an outstanding French jazz pianist. Despite his physical defect (he had imperfect osteogenesis - a genetic disease that destroyed bone tissue, stopping his growth), he became a famous improviser who created his own eclectic style with perfect technique and repertoire, characterized by romantic melodism. Although Petrucciani often collaborated with famous musicians, including jazz saxophonists Lee Konitz and Charles Lloyd, he is better known for his solo performances using original compositions and jazz standards.

Michel Petrucciani: biography

He was born on 28.12.1962 in Oranz (France, in a musical Italian family, he played drums in a band with his father, guitarist Tony Petrucciani, and Louis's brother, a bass player.) Michel's congenital disease, also known as the "crystal man" disease, Fractures of bones, was the reason for its low growth - it had only 91 cm in height and weighed almost 50 kg.

Since childhood, Petrucciani has a talent for music. By the time he learned to speak, he was already singing Wes Montgomery's solo. The pianist who had the most influence on Michelle was Bill Evans, whom he first heard at the age of ten. With this early acquaintance, his multi-layered jazz harmonies, lyrical style and articulation of the melody were always strongly associated. Michel Petrucciani, whose biography in music began with learning to play the classical pianoforte at the age of four, already at nine composing compositions together with his family.

First success

When Michel was thirteen, he gave his first professional concert. The boy had to stand on stage, and he used a special device to press the piano pedals. Physical disability did not affect the hands of the musician, and, as they say, he played with amazing energy and enthusiasm.

At the age of fifteen, musician Michel Petrucciani went to Paris. There he played with Kenny Clark in 1977 and in 1978 with Clark Terry. The breakthrough came at the jazz festival in Kliusukla. Clark Terry disappeared from the pianist, and when Michel was led to the stage, Terry thought it was a joke. The growth of Petrucciani did not exceed 90 cm. But his performance struck Terry and the rest of the festival, it was amazingly talented and virtuosic. Clark said he was deeply touched by his playing. He was a dwarf, but he played like a giant.

The trip to Paris left mixed impressions, but, undoubtedly, contributed to the musical and personal transformation of Michel. According to him, "everything was mostly about drugs and strange women, but I was lucky to get out unscathed." The behavior of Petrucciani in France was largely immature and insecure, despite his considerable talent. He wore a cap and often acted aggressively and rigidly, referring to people familiarly.

Start of a musical career

After Paris, pianist Michel Petrucciani returned home for a short time. He began his professional career, living with drummer Aldo Romano. Michel made records for Owl Records and started a friendship with its owner Jean-Jacques Pousset. The latter later recalled that Petrucciani seemed to always hurry, saying that he did not want to lose time. But Michel wanted to become independent from Romano, too, with whom he did not feel free. He needed to escape. He needed to go as far as he could. And he went to California.

Moving to the USA

Michel Petrucciani was in the United States in 1982, where he came to visit the saxophonist Charles Lloyd, who had retired from jazz. Lloyd stopped performing when the listeners began to consider his musicians more fashionable than himself. After listening to Petrucciani's play, the saxophonist was so inspired that he agreed to go with him on a concert tour. Lloyd told Michel: "I was not going to perform again. You provoked me. I heard this beauty in you and told myself that I should take you around the world, because it was so beautiful, as if it was a call of providence. "

The speeches of Petrucciani and Lloyd on the west coast were a huge success, and they continued them abroad. On February 22, 1985, with Michel in his arms, Lloyd stepped onto the stage of the City Hall in New York and seated him at the piano to play a historical concert in the history of jazz. There they also filmed the movie One Night with Blue Note. The director of the tape John Charles Jopson later recalled that this moment touched him to tears.

Petrucciani and Lloyd's performances at the Jazz Festival were collected in an album that in 1982 won the Prix d'Excellence. But mostly Michel expressed contempt and disappointment about the awards. In his opinion, they fell on him in such numbers, as people thought that he would die young.

Work in New York

Pianist Michel Petrucciani moved to New York in 1984 and spent the rest of his life there. This was one of the most fruitful stages of his career. The musician signed up with Jim Hall and Wayne Shorter, releasing the album Power of Three. In 1986, Petrucciani with the same musicians recorded a live album. He also performed with the famous figure of the jazz scene of the USA Dizzy Gillespie.

Michel Petrucciani preferred to record solos. He said: "I believe that the pianist is not held until he can act independently. I started giving solo concerts in February 1993, when I asked my agent to cancel my performances for a year as part of the trio, so as not to play anything but solo concerts ... I had a wonderful time, speaking alone, rediscovering the piano And every evening learning something new. I learned so much about the instrument and about direct communication with the audience. It was an incredible experience. I really liked to perform solo - after that to go on stage in the band and play with other people became a trifle! "

Michelle Petrucciani: personal life

In his personal life, he had five significant relationships: with Erlinda Montagno (marriage), Eugene Morrison, Marie-Laura Ropes, Italian pianist Guilda Butta (the marriage lasted three months and ended in divorce) and Isabelle Mele (with whom he shared the grave). In a marriage with Marie-Laura, he had a son, Alexander, who inherited his estate. In addition, he had a stepchild Rashid Ropersh.

In 1994, jazz pianist Michel Petrucciani was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor in Paris.

Last years

In the late 1990s, the way of life of Petrucciani is becoming increasingly difficult. In musical terms, he moved at a frenzied pace. The pianist performed more than one hundred times a year, and in 1998, a year before his death, he gave 140 concerts. His social life also became increasingly costly - he steel more to drink and experiment with cocaine. Michelle became too weak to use crutches, and began to move around on a wheelchair. According to the last manager Petrucciani, he worked too much - he not only made notes and gave concerts, but he was always on television and always gave interviews. He overworked, and it was obvious. He demanded too much of himself.

Death and creativity assessment

Michel Petrucciani died right after his 36th birthday from a lung infection. He was buried in the Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris.

Wayne Shorter summed up the main features of the character and style of Michel Petrucciani: "There are a lot of people around, tall and normal, they have everything with which they were born, with the normal length of legs, arms and everything else. They are symmetrical in all respects, but they live as if they are armless, legless, brainless, and live their lives, constantly complaining. I've never heard Michelle complain. He looked in the mirror and did not complain about what he saw. Michel Petrucciani was a great musician - great because he was a great person, he had the ability to feel and give to others this feeling, and he gave it to others through his music. "